Reconciling in Christ Sunday 2026

In the baptismal covenant found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Christians are asked:

"Will you strive for justice and peace in all the earth?"

The response is simple:

"I will, and I ask God to help me."

At Messiah, we believe that promise is not merely a personal aspiration but a calling shared by the whole Church. To strive for justice and peace is to participate in God's ongoing work of healing what has been harmed and restoring what has been broken.

On Sunday, June 28, Messiah Lutheran Church will celebrate our annual Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday, a special Service of Justice and Healing dedicated to that baptismal calling. Through worship, education, prayer, and community partnership, we will reflect on the ways God continues to reform the Church and invite us into the work of reconciliation.

Each year, congregations across the country observe Reconciling in Christ Sunday during Pride Month as a way of celebrating and renewing their commitment to the full welcome, inclusion, and affirmation of LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the Church. For Messiah, this day holds special significance.

As one of the most openly and officially LGBTQ-affirming congregations in Parker County, Messiah has sought to be more than a congregation that simply proclaims “welcome”. We are a community where LGBTQIA+ people are well-represented and integral members of the congregation. In a region where many LGBTQIA+ Christians still struggle to find a spiritual home, Messiah has become the place where they are not only present in the pews, but also active in leadership, ministry, and service. RIC Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate that witness, to give thanks for the many people who have helped shape Messiah into a place of refuge and belonging, and to recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of healing, justice, and reconciliation.

Yet our commitment reaches beyond any single issue.

Our congregation’s Reconciling in Christ Commitment recognizes that the Church is always being called to deeper repentance, greater faithfulness, and wider compassion. In the spirit of the Lutheran conviction that the Church must always be reforming, we believe that God continually calls us to examine the ways individuals and communities have been overlooked, excluded, harmed, or forgotten. Reconciling work is never finished.

This Year's Focus: Mental Health and Recovery

This year, our RIC Sunday will focus on the ways churches can better support those living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and other recovery-related challenges.

Too often, individuals and families navigating these realities have encountered stigma, misunderstanding, shame, or silence within faith communities. As Christians, we are called instead to bear one another’s burdens, to accompany one another in suffering, and to proclaim hope where despair threatens to take root.

To help us engage this important conversation, we are honored to welcome Unity Recovery as our special guest partner for the day.

Unity Recovery is a nonprofit Recovery Community Organization serving Weatherford and other regions through free, non-clinical, peer-based recovery support services. Their work supports individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use challenges while embracing all pathways of recovery. Through peer support, recovery meetings, family services, educational programs, community events, and recovery-friendly workplace initiatives, Unity Recovery helps create spaces where people can find connection, support, and hope. To learn more about Unity Recovery and their services, visit unityrecovery.org.

Join Us

9:30 AM – Adult Forum: Learning from Unity Recovery
Representatives from Unity Recovery will lead a special educational session about their work in Parker County, the realities facing those in recovery, and ways communities of faith can become more supportive and informed partners in healing.

10:30 AM – Reconciling in Christ Sunday Worship
During our Special Service of Justice and Healing, we will hear from Unity Recovery once again as we reflect on Christ’s call to reconciliation, restoration, and care for those who have been wounded by stigma and exclusion.

As part of our observance, a special offering will be received to support both Unity Recovery and the work of the Reconciling in Christ movement in the ELCA.

We invite all people—members, neighbors, friends, and visitors—to join us as we celebrate God’s reconciling love and recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of healing and justice.